Motorist clocked doing 139kpm in 80km zone in Aughrim

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The R747 between Aughrim and Annacurra, where a motorist was clocked doing 139kpm

Gardaí have issued an appeal for motorists to take extra care on the roads after 16 people died in road crashes this month, with seven deaths in the past seven days.

The appeal comes after 4 road deaths over the weekend which included a six-year old boy.

Ninety-three people have lost their lives on Irish roads so far this year.

Speaking on RTE Radio 1’s Morning Ireland, Assistant Commissioner Michael Finn said this time of year is “an extremely high risk time on the roads”.

“People are on holidays, more relaxed, more off guard. There are thousands of visitors from abroad, people travelling to unfamiliar locations, more agricultural machinery on the roads – these all form part of the how and why it’s riskier this time of year,” he said.

He said in a recent 24-hour period gardaí detected “extremely excessive” speeds on the roads and said people are still drink or drug driving, using a mobile phone while driving and not wearing safety belts.

On 26 July, 102,514 vehicles were monitored by the safety camera network across the country with 394 vehicles travelling above the designated speed limit.

The highest speed detected was 139km/h in an 80km/h zone on the R747 at the R747 Annacurragh to Aughrim road .

Two weeks ago lawyer Ronan O’Doherty was fined €1,000 and disqualified from driving for six months, after he was clocked doing 187kph in a 120kph zone on the M11 at Ballyhenry, Ashford.